National League club Bromley have managed to sign an Arsenal legend’s son after failing to bag a Gunners deal following a trial with them.
The 24 year old attacking midfielder Mitchel Bergkamp had a spell for Watford Under-23s after a turning out with his dad’s old club a few years back.
He drops to the fifth tier of English football after admitting his footballing dream was to play for the Gunners, which now seems unlikely.
Mitchel was released by home-country club Almere City in 2021, but is looking to kick on with his career by helping the Ravens to a successful campaign.
Bromley currently sit 8th in the National League with 37 points from 25 games played after a 4-1 win at home to Yeovil at the weekend. Mitchel was eligible to play in the game but wasn’t involved just yet.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ฉ โ๏ธ
We are delighted to confirm the signing of Dutch attacking midfielder Mitchel Bergkamp ๐ณ๐ฑ
Our new signing will be eligible for selection tomorrow ๐ https://t.co/X90wuheSaN
Welcome to Hayes Lane, Mitchel ๐ช#WeAreBromley
โ Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) January 13, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
We are delighted to announce the signing of Dutch attacking midfielder Mitchel Bergkamp.
The 24-year-old arrives at Hayes Lane with previous experience of playing in England, spending five months with Watfordโs U21s before leaving in the summer of 2021.
Bergkamp, the son of football legend Dennis, spent the beginning of his career in the Netherlands, playing for Almere City and was also a recent trialist at Arsenal.
Manager Andy Woodman expressed his joy at securing Mitchelโs services:
โI was lucky enough to work with Mitchell when I was at Arsenal so having seen him up close and the way heโs been fitting into our group, Iโm delighted to have him on board.โ
Welcome to Bromley, Mitchel!
Thatโs correct, @SkySportsNews โ
Our new signing, Mitchel Bergkamp, IS eligible for tomorrowโs game against Yeovil ๐
Tickets ๐ https://t.co/X90wuheSaN#WeAreBromley pic.twitter.com/9XpGVREeoL
โ Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) January 13, 2023
He spent the week training at Arsenal’s London Colney base with Steve Bould and his Under-23s side back in 2020.
His early childhood was spent in London and he came out on the pitch in north London in 2006 with his dad at a testimonial match against Ajax top open the Emirates Stadium.
‘My father also played for Internazionale (Inter Milan) and Ajax, two wonderful clubs, but Arsenal feels like home,’ Mitchel said during in interview with ELF Voetbal in 2019.
‘Would I choose the Emirates or Highbury? I would have preferred to play at Highbury. There are the memories of everything my father has done for the club.’
Dennis Bergkamp arrived in 1995 to bring the Premier League to a new level. This inspired Arsenal to win three PL titles, and also opened up the competition to more international players.
The Dutchman’s technical skills and keen eye for passing made the competition some of the most entertaining.
Bergkamp provided team-mates with golden opportunities, and he also scored some remarkable goals, including against Newcastle United, which was voted the best goal of the Premier League’s first twenty-five years.
315 – APPEARANCES
87 – GOALS
94 – ASSISTS
3 – TITLES
4 – MONTHLY AWARDS
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Here’s what fans had to say as National League club Bromley sign an Arsenal legend’s son after failing to bag a Gunners deal a few years back…
@mubly: If he’s got even 1/10th of what his Dad has he could be a joy to watch. Welcome to the club!
@PehaugheyPaul: Welcome to @bromleyfc Mitchel ๐
@hayhive: Even if heโs 5% of his dad well done ๐
@PhotogSmd: Mixed feelings about having Bergkamp on my shirt ๐
@HSmith_HS: Welcome to the club, looking forward to his debut
@markwe61: Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Hope he turns out to be the inspired buy of the season… but a failed trail at Arsenal and a few games in Watford U21s… now Bromley
@Kourdoullou: Might go to a game to do the “WE’VE GOT . . ” chant
@AFCPickett0712: If heโs anything like his old man, Bromley are going up
@Ben__Wiltshire: ๐ณ๐ฑ Weโve got Mitchel Bergkamp. Weโve got Mitchel Bergkamp
@devileyescome: What a signing hahahaha
@TomHumphrey93: Love this.
@TheMetChristofi: As a Bromley and Arsenal fan, you do not realise how mental this is
@goonersaray: Now I have no excuse not to go to next Bromley gameโฆ. we got Mitchell bergkamp
@TomAFC94: My head is gone.
@RoyalArsenalMRA: … Walking in a Bergkamp Wonderland
@NorthBank65: Im sure his Dad was half decent ๐
@BenWattsSport: David Beckham spotted at Park View Road, could the next football legend in Kent be Dennis Bergkamp at Hayes Lane? ๐ โฝ๏ธ #BBCFootball
@Swanny003: Massive ๐
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